Abstract [en]

This study regards the combustibility and ignitability of textile materials, especially cotton bedlinens. Today, there is legal requirements for performing flammability tests according to SS-EN ISO 12952-1: 2010 on filled bedlinen, such as blankets and pillows. Ikea of Sweden (IoS) decided to make additional ignitability tests on unfilled bedlinen such as sheets, duvet covers and pillow cases for safety purposes. Since there is no test method for unfilled bed linens in the standard, the method for sheets was used for test of the duvet cover. In this report, the test method's relevance for the test of the duvet covers is examined. The primary problem with this is that tests according to ISO 12952-1 of unfilled products results in a spread in the output between replicates. Therefore the study aims to investigate if there is any factors that may cause this inconsistency. IoS test reports from yeas 2017 was analysed and complied. A few of the products that showed dispersed results were selected as test material for ignitability tests according to SS-EN ISO 12952-1: 2010 made at RISE, Research Institute of Sweden, in Borås. Literature research, data and test results have been the solid ground for this study.

The project consists of two main parts, one aims at investigating whether there are parameters that can affect the outcome of test results and the other analyses whether the test method for sheets is relevant for test of duvet covers. A hypothesis that choice of detergent had an effect on the result was further investigated by washing four replicates with a phosphate containing detergent before testing. Three tests of four showed approved results (75%), which led to the conclusion that detergent can be a sensitive parameter, thus the detergent should not deviate from the standard recommendations. The remaining tests, which were washed according to standard recommendations, showed 100% approved results, regardless of which test product. whether the sheet, duvet cover (double layer) and duvet cover (single layer) were tested. Based on the results of this study, the conclusion is given that the test method for the sheet is relevant for the test of the cover, regardless of double or single layer. However, the relevance of the test is questioned from an environmental perspective, and if enough tests have been conducted to strengthen credibility.